Rennell

Photo © Ian Puia

Travel Guide Oceania Melanesia Solomon Islands Rennell and Bellona Province Rennell

Introduction

Kagaba Bay, W.Rennell

The island of Rennell in the Solomon Islands is a destination for the intrepid. Lake Tegano, in UNESCO World Heritage listed East Rennell, is the largest lake in the Pacific and the centre of tourism activity. Rennell is home to several endemic species, including Bare-eyed White-eye, the Rennell Starling, the Rennell Fantail and the Rennell Shrikebill among others.

edit

Geography

Rennell is the world's largest raised coral atoll at a size of 660 km². The island consists of raised coral limestone, dominated by Lake Tegano (Lake Tegano), a large brackish lake on the eastern half of the island. The western part of the island is a relatively flat landscape with rolling hills.

edit

Villages

Tigoa is where the airstrip is located next to Tupuaki is the provincial capital of Rennell and Bellona.
Niupani, Tegano, Hutuna and Tebaitahe are all the four villages located on Lake Tegano.
Tahaanuku, Kanaba, Matangi, Labagu and Kagaba are all along the road from Tigoa to Lake Tegano.
Kagua is near Tigoa in the opposite direction to Lake Tegano.
Lughughi is near the seashore at the end of a smaller side road leading out of Tahanuku.

edit

Sights and Activities

Lake Tegano

Lake Tegano is the largest lake in the Pacific at 27 kilometres long and 9 kilometres wide. At the western end of the lake, there are about 200 islets. In addition to the unique wildlife in the area, there are also the sunken remains of several Catalina seaplanes from WWII. Some of them are in shallow water.
There are various caves with streams running through them that can be great for a refreshing dip. Ask around with the locals to get someone to take you to one.
Canoeing in a dugout canoe is a nice way to drift around Lake Tegano.
Snorkeling can be done at various places around the island. Diving is also a good possibility, around some of the wrecks at Lake Tegano for instance, but you will need to bring all your own gear.

edit

Weather

Rennell experiences typical tropical humid weather with high, regular temperatures ranging from 23 °C to 32 °C. Annual rainfall on the island is somewhere between 3,000 and 4,000 mm, with a dry period between May and June.

edit

Getting There

By Plane

Rennell's airstrip is located in the flatter western half of the island. Solomon Airlines flies to the island twice a week with Twin Otters^[1]. For the average visitor, air travel is by far the most convenient option.

By Boat

There are occasional boat services travelling to Lavanggu in Eastern Rennell. You can check the schedule at the Rennell Bellona Provincial office located on the 2nd floor of NPF Plaza in Honiara. The trip takes a day and a half from Honiara. Conditions on boats in the Solomon Islands are basic at best and sleeping on deck is the norm. Limited cabin space is also available.

edit

Getting Around

By Car

There is only one road on Rennell and only several vehicles that drive along it. The 46-kilometre-long trip from the airstrip to Lake Tegano takes about 3 hours in good weather, providing all goes well. Transportation is in the back of a pickup truck - don't expect a cushy ride, the road is rough and the vehicle will likely be packed with other people.

By Foot

Once you are settled in your village, most transportation will be by foot.

edit

Sleep

There are several lodges on Rennell, mostly around Lake Tegano, although there are also some options in West Rennell, near the airstrip.

Property	Location	Type	Email
Tengano Lodge	Tengano Village, Lake Tegano, East Rennell	Guesthouse	jhkaituu@yahoo.com.au
East Rennell Homestay	Niupani Village, Lake Tegano, East Rennell	Guesthouse	ianpuia@solomon.com.sb
Henuagoto Lodge	West Lake Tegano, East Rennell	Guesthouse	pugeika@yahoo.com.au
Neitasi Eco Lodge	Tepaitahe Village, Lake Tegano, East Rennell	Guesthouse
Tahamatangi Eco-tourism Lodge	Lake Tegano, East Rennell	Guesthouse
Kiakoe Lakeside Lodge	Lake Tegano, East Rennell	Guesthouse
Moreno Guest House	Tigoa, West Rennell	Guesthouse
Nukuma'anu Guest House	Tigoa, West Rennell	Guesthouse	Email: jhkaituu@yahoo.com.au
Kisa Home Stay	Tegano Village, Lake Tegano, East Rennell	Guesthouse
Mata’ake Lodge	Hutuna Village, Lake Tegano, East Rennell	Guesthouse

^[2]

edit

Keep Connected

Internet

The age of the internet has reached Rennell, thanks to the People First Network (PFnet), a non-profit organisation enabling affordable, sustainable rural connectivity in the Solomon Islands. There are stations in Hutuna and at the Henua Distance Learning Centre in Niupani, where emails can be sent for a nominal fee.

edit